on the Nairobi Action Plan 2005-2009, for the Nairobi Summit on a Mine Free
World.
Delivered by Habbouba Aoun, Landmine Resoure Center (Lebanon)
Mine risk education (MRE) has evolved considerably since 1999, both
qualitatively & quantitatively. However, the latest edition of the Landmine
Monitor Report indicates that a pressing need for MRE, or increased MRE, is
apparent from the number of casualties in 14 countries or regions, including 5
States Parties (Burundi, Chad, Colombia, Sudan and Turkey) and 9 countries that
remain out of the Convention (Burma/Myanmar, Georgia, India, Iran, Nepal,
Pakistan, Somalia, Vietnam), as well as in Somaliland . These needs should be
addressed urgently.
Regarding the Action Plan, as we have already stated on several occasions
as well as submitted in writing, we think that a rewriting of Action #21 is
essential as the current text does not only fail to reflect reality on the
ground but also risks to add another dangerous bureaucratic burden on MRE
operators in the field.
Our major concern about this action point relates to its reference to the
International Mine Action Standards. The International Mine Action Standards
for MRE, despite a number of interesting conceptual ideas, develop an
accreditation system that, in our view, is only going to add costs and create
more bureaucratic layers on already fragile MRE operations. Failing to rewrite
this important action point would not just add costs and unnecessary
bureaucracy, it would also empower accreditation structures that have generally
neither demonstrated their skills in MRE nor their ability to support and
understand the needs of mine-affected communities.
We therefore suggest redrafting Action #21 as follows, in order to make it
more concrete and focused:
Action #21: Ensure that mine risk education programmes are made available
in all
communities at risk to
prevent mine incidents and save lives, and improve mine action planning,
integrating such programmes with clearance and marking activities,
withcasualty surveillance and education systems, and broader relief and
development activities, taking into consideration age, gender, social,
economic, political and geographical factors.
Thank you for your attention.